As in the Days of Noah

In May of 2025, I had the incredible privilege of traveling to Greece and Ephesus, Turkey, to walk through the ancient ruins where Paul and the early believers shared the gospel. I was part of a group of sixteen women, and naturally, we were paired up to share rooms. Our journey began in Athens, but my roommate had not yet arrived. She was fitting this trip in between other commitments abroad, teaching in churches across different countries, and had been delayed.

When she finally arrived, I expected to hear about all the ways God had been moving through her in those other countries. Instead, the first words out of her mouth were, “I have got to tell you about my visit to Noah’s Ark!”

She began to recount her journey from Istanbul to the site, landing on the far side of Turkey, taking a taxi to Doğubeyazıt in Ağrı Province, and then another thirty-minute taxi to the location of the ark (the Mount Ararat mountain range), all by herself and mostly at night. And although the ark has not “physically” been retrieved, people believe it’s on one of the mountains of Ararat (Gen. 8:6), as evidence of early settlements as far back as the days of Noah have been discovered.

I hung on every word.

The courage, the careful planning, the excitement — it was clear she hadn’t just stumbled onto this experience. She had thought about it for a long time, anticipated the challenges, and stepped into it with faith.

No Time to Wait

Her story was a vivid reminder that, just like Noah, preparation matters. The days of Noah were marked by unimaginable evil and violence. Men had grown so corrupt and wicked that, The Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). God’s judgment came because humanity had filled the earth with violence.

Jesus warned, For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37-39). The end times will mirror those days. Corruption, wickedness, and violence will again fill the earth. And just as in Noah’s day, those who are unprepared will be caught off guard, while those who have obeyed, planned, and trusted God, will stand secure.

Preparation isn’t optional, it’s mandatory, and often requires courage and diligence…and sometimes we must go at it alone, just like my friend traveling by herself in faith to stand before the remnants of God’s deliverance. The ark wasn’t built after the flood began, Noah acted in advance, trusting God and responding to His warning. Likewise, we must be alert, ready, and uncompromising in our faith because the days are darkening, and evil is wreaking havoc.

Aye Aye, Captain

Just as Noah’s obedience required both action and trust, we too must step forward in faith, doing our part fully while leaving the outcome in God’s hands. I think of the phrase “Aye Aye, Captain.” It’s one that conveys agreement or compliance, especially in carrying out a directive. Now, think about Noah’s Ark for a moment. God gave Noah very specific instructions on how to build the ark (Genesis 6), but there was one crucial detail He left out. There was no way to steer it. No steering wheel, no sail to catch the wind…nothing. This makes it abundantly clear that Noah’s role was to obey and prepare; his job was to be a passenger, not the pilot. God would “man the ship.” The preparation prior to the storm was Noah’s responsibility, but the battle…the protection, the direction, the deliverance…was entirely the Lord’s.

The same is true for us today. Like my friend, we need to think ahead, prepare, anticipate challenges, and move forward with faith and even excitement as we finish our race — because — when the rain starts falling, it will be too late. Prepare now, before the storm.

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God Bless You,

Carole